Downloadable Scale Drawings

As I research the various prototypes that I intend to model, I am often unable to find good scale drawings to work from. Recently I have begun using various software packages to create my own drawings, and I want to make these drawings available here for others to download. At this time, all drawings will be posted in Adobe's PDF format, which allows for excellent reproduction of the original HO scale drawings. Note that because of the length of an HO passenger car, these plans are formatted to fit on 8.5" x 14" legal-size paper. Use the highest quality setting on your printer for best results, and if you have access to a laser printer, by all means use it.

1178-1195

This group of baggage cars was rebuilt from ex-Army hospital cars that had originally been built by the St. Louis Car Co. Their vestibules were removed and various windows plated over, replaced simply by two sets of baggage doors. Three of these cars later received large murals for Adirondack service.

Click on image to view and download plans - 118KB - last updated 5/22/05

1610-1617

Several former St. Louis-built U.S. Army hospital cars were rebuilt into baggage-dorm cars for service on long-distance trains. They featured beds for the crew members plus restroom and shower facilities, in addition to some baggage space.

Click on image to view and download plans - 134KB - last updated 5/25/05

1626-1627

These two baggage-dorm cars were built for the Atlantic Coast Line in 1947 and were later converted to head-end power for use on Amtrak's long-distance trains where off-duty crews needed a place to sleep and shower.

Click on image to view and download plans - 142KB - last updated 5/27/05

1800-1801

These two baggage cars, originally built for the Northern Pacific by Pullman, were decorated with Amtrak's special Vermonter mural and were used on that train for several years. Now, with that baggage service suspended, these cars can been anywhere on the Amtrak system.

Click on image to view and download plans - 86KB - last updated 11/8/04

2050-2056

Originally built as 22-roomette sleepers for the New York Central, these seven cars were reconfigured by Budd as 16 single/10 double slumbercoaches. They were used to provide economy sleeper service on several long-distance Amtrak routes until the slumbercoach class was discontinued in the mid-1990s.

Click on image to view and download plans - 174KB - last updated 5/24/05

2230-2234

These 11-double bedroom sleeping cars served originally for the Union Pacific before being rebuilt for Amtrak's Auto Train. Upon their addition to the fleet, they were christened with new Star-series names.

Click on image to view and download plans - 142KB - last updated 5/26/05

2461-2467

This small group of 10-roomette, 6-bedroom sleepers was built for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy as part of their standard streamliner fleet. They appeared outwardly very similar to the ex-ATSF "Pine"-series cars, but instead carried names in the "Silver" series. One or two were leased by VIA Rail and may still be in service on their long-distance trains.

Click on image to view and download plans - 160KB - last updated 11/24/05

3100-3105

Several ex-Army hospital cars were rebuilt by Amtrak into lounge cars for service on long-distance trains. Some of these cars remain in service with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, still carrying a variation of Amtrak's paint scheme.

Click on image to view and download plans - 142KB - last updated 5/24/05

3106-3112

This is a series of Heritage lounge cars that were converted from ex-Santa Fe dining cars. One of these, the 3111 L'Auberge Laurentien, was used in Amtrak's Adirondack service for several years. They could also be found on many other long-distance trains.

Click on image to view and download plans - 119KB - last updated 11/6/04

3113-3117

These cars were rebuilt from Southern Pacific "French Quarter" lounges for use on long-distance trains. All were equipped with electric pianos, and often served as the Montrealer's "Le Pub" lounge car. Cars 3115-3116 were diverted from the group and rebuilt as buffet cars 8701 and 8700 for Auto Train service.

Click on image to view and download plans - 142KB - last updated 5/25/05

3118-3127

The most common style of Amtrak lounge was this group of cars, built originally as parlor cars for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Congressional fleet. Two cars from this group were refurbished for Adirondack service as 3126 Adirondack Lodge and 3127 Saratoga Inn.

Click on image to view and download plans - 150KB - last updated 5/23/05

4000-4020

The first of Amtrak's two types of 44-seat Heritage coaches were built for the Southern Pacific by Budd. Note that the large restroom windows shown in the drawing were plated over when Amtrak converted these cars for ADA compliance late in their lifetimes.

Click on image to view and download plans - 120KB - last updated 10/26/04

4627-4645

This set of drawings show the second type of Amtrak's 44-seat Heritage coaches. These cars were originally built for the Union Pacific by Budd and featured smooth side panels. They were used extensively on long-distance trains before the availability of Amfleet II coaches.

Click on image to view and download plans - 120KB - last updated 10/26/04

4740-4742

These three coaches were rebuilt by Budd from 16-section sleepers for use on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's California Zephyr. Though very few in number, they could be seen anywhere throughout the eastern United States on Amtrak's long-distance trains.

Click on image to view and download plans - 159KB - last updated 5/25/05

7000-7007

Shown here are a group of ex-Pennsylvania Railroad Congressional cars. They were rebuilt by Amtrak as high-capacity Clocker coaches with ADA-compliant features. Some were later reassigned to Adirondack service, followed by a brief stint on Keystone trains before retirement.

Click on image to view and download plans - 174KB - last updated 5/24/05

7600-7618

A second group of former Congressional coaches was also rebuilt with 88 seats for Clocker service, but did not include handicapped access. These cars later found their way onto the Adirondack, with one ending up in mail service and several more running on Keystone trains before being retired.

Click on image to view and download plans - 174KB - last updated 5/24/05

8501-8503

These next drawings depict one of Amtrak's many varieties of Heritage dining cars. Several of them had come from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Zephyr fleet, and a few even retained their Silver-series names in Amtrak service. These cars featured full Budd fluting above and below the windows.

Click on image to view and download plans - 113KB - last updated 10/26/04

8505-8509

These cars were originally built for the Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited and featured slab-style side panels to blend in better with that road's Pullman cars. They were also painted in two-tone green despite being stainless, and later wore a coat of Platinum Mist following Amtrak's practices. Several of these cars still serve on long-distance trains.

Click on image to view and download plans - 134KB - last updated 11/24/05

8521, 8524

Another type of Heritage dining car are these two cars, built originally for the Southern. These cars have smooth letterboards and a different pattern of windows in the kitchen area.

Click on image to view and download plans - 118KB - last updated 10/26/04

8700-8701

These two cars were originally built for Southern Pacific as club-lounges. Unlike several similar cars that remained as lounges on Amtrak, they were rebuilt as buffet-lounges and used primarily in Auto Train service.

Click on image to view and download plans - 107KB - last updated 11/6/04